By Forus and Espace Associatif  

Morocco integrated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its social and economic development policies at a very early stage, so that significant progress has been made, particularly with regard to the living conditions of the population, access to basic services and the development of infrastructure. However, much remains to be done to reduce inequalities and ensure the rights and needs of all. 

In the continuity and capitalization of its experiences and achievements, Espace Associatif, member of Forus in Morocco, has initiated an action aiming at reinforcing the role of the Moroccan associative fabric in the reflections and analyses carried out by the government regarding the implementation of the SDGs. The objective? To bring the voice of Moroccan civil society to the table and to deepen the analysis of the state of the implementation of the SDGs and their conditions of progress in Morocco.   

This action was anchored in a territorial approach, through reflection workshops bringing together representatives of civil society organisations, academic actors, elected officials and the institutions concerned. These workshops, combined with an analytical approach undertaken by Espace Associatif, led to the production of a report entitled "Civil society organisations in Morocco: What mechanisms for the monitoring and accountability of the 2030 Agenda?”. From Covid-19 to the education system, from gender equality to the rural-urban divide, the report includes the voices of various Moroccan civil society organisations and informs various aspects of achieving the SDGs.  

The report, available only in French, identifies the characteristic trends of the Moroccan situation in relation to certain sustainable development goals and highlights the specific role of the associative movement: on the one hand, by revealing the modalities through which democratic development associations contribute to the achievement of the SDGs as direct actors of development, and on the other hand, by evaluating the effects of associative action as a force of proposal and support to good governance in the achievement of the SDGs.   

Indeed, Espace Associatif has given the issue of development agendas a particular interest since its creation, considering them as a scale of reading and analysis of public policies in Morocco, in the light of its national and international commitments. For Espace Associatif, the achievement of the SDGs requires a new system of partnerships and global solidarity, inclusive partnerships built on a common vision and objectives, which place people and the planet at the centre of their concerns at global, regional, national and territorial levels. These solidarities must take place between States by involving civil society, transnational NGOs, the academic community and the private sector.  

In this perspective, Espace Associatif is a partner in a large international programme aiming at monitoring the commitment of States in the implementation of the SDGs. Espace Associatif's intervention is based on a project on monitoring and accountability mechanisms for the 2030 SDGs implemented by civil society organisations, a project carried out in partnership with Forus with the support of the European Union (EU) and the French Development Agency (AFD). This project will focus on the following five SDGs: SDG 3 (good health and well-being); SDG 4 (access to quality education); SDG 5 (gender equality); SDG 16 (justice and peace); SDG 17 (partnerships for achieving the goals). The overall objective is: "To raise awareness and influence decision-makers on the challenges of translating societal expectations and implementing the SDGs, as well as on their accountability commitments and responsibilities".  

Find Espace Associatif’s report "Civil society organisations in Morocco: What mechanisms for monitoring and accountability of the 2030 Agenda?” here. 

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